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Influence of Working Memory on Academic Achievement and Quality of Life in Children with Beta-Thalassemia Major
Uni Gamayani1, *, Ni Luh Meidha Dini Lestari1, Ahmad Rizal Ganiem1, Ramdan Panigoro2
1 Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran/ Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Jalan Pasteur no 38, Indonesia
2 Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran/ Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, RSP Unpad, Jalan Eijkman No 38, Indonesia
Identifiers and Pagination:
First Page: 76
Last Page: 83
Publisher Id: TOPSYJ-12-76
DOI: 10.2174/1874350101912010076
Received Date: 29/10/2018
Revision Received Date: 03/01/2019
Acceptance Date: 10/03/2019
Electronic publication date: 28/03/2019
Collection year: 2019
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© 2019 Gamayani et al.
open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0), a copy of which is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
* Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran/ Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Jalan Pasteur no 38, Indonesia; Tel: +62222036984; E-mail: gamayani@yahoo.com
Children with beta-thalassemia major may suffer from working memory impairment. For a more refined understanding of this issue, we assessed working memory function in beta-thalassemia children and evaluated its influence on academic achievement and quality of life.
This was a cross-sectional study involving 60 beta-thalassemia children aged 8-12 years. All participants underwent a working memory assessment using the digit span and were interviewed using academic achievement and Indonesian version of PedsQL 4.0 questionnaires. Working memory in beta-thalassemia children significantly influences their quality of life, both directly (β=0.32) and indirectly, through their academic achievement (β=0.639). Longer duration of transfusion (p=0.01) is significantly related to poorer working memory, while lower hemoglobin level (p=0.81) and higher ferritin level (p=0.24) are not significantly associated with working memory.
We concluded that working memory influences the quality of life in beta-thalassemia children, both directly and indirectly, through their academic achievement.
Keywords: Academic achievement, Digit span, PedsQL, Quality of life, Thalassemia, Working memory.
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Thalassemia is a group of inherited blood disorders caused by defects in the synthesis of globin chains of hemoglobins [1]. It is considered as one of the most common genetic diseases worldwide [2]. Indonesia is among the group of countries with a high prevalence of thalassemia [3] with an estimated carrier rate of 8% [4]. The burden of this disorder in many regions is of such a magnitude that it represents a major public health concern [5]. Although the life expectancy of thalassemia patients has markedly improved over the last few decades, patients still suffer from many complications including neurological complications such as cognitive deficits [6].
Working memory has been a major topic of cognitive research for the past years [7]. It is defined as a dynamic processing system which includes temporary storage and manipulation of information [8]. In everyday life, working memory is essential for many cognitive processes such as language comprehension, planning or problem solving, and fluid intelligence [9]. Hence, working memory is thought to be more highly related to learning process than any other cognitive factors, and low working memory capacity seems to be a high-risk factor for underachievement in early school years [10, 11]. Without early intervention, working memory difficulties are not spontaneously corrected as a child develops and impedes individual academic success [11].
Working memory involves many parts of the brain regions including prefrontal, frontal, lateral temporal, and parietal areas [12-14]. Some of these areas are known to be affected in thalassemic patients. Ischemic brain lesions as detected by MR imaging study are found mostly in basal ganglia, frontal, and parietal area [15]. Reduced or absent beta globin chain synthesis in thalassemia results in chronic hypoxic state as a result of chronic anemia [16, 17] and hemostatic changes leading to hypercoagulability that is involved in susceptibility to vaso-occlusion and, eventually, ischemic lesions in thalassemic patients [18-20]. While iron deposits are also commonly found, as thalassemic patients need regular blood transfusions [21-23], they are mostly detected in basal ganglia and temporal cortex [24].
The assessment of health-related quality of life is an important marker of health outcome for children, especially those with chronic conditions [25]. Children with beta thalassemia usually have a lower quality of life score compared to their healthy peers [26], with school functioning subscale being the most affected [27]. A previous study stated that low school functioning score in beta thalassemia children was influenced by low school attendance due to the great need of transfusion and hospitalization [28]. The influence of working memory on academic achievement and quality of life in children with beta thalassemia has never been studied.
2.1. Participants and Recruitment
This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the outpatient clinic of Pediatric Thalassemia Unit of Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia during August to December 2016. The protocol of the study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee.
Inclusion criteria of this study were children age 8-12 years old who have already been diagnosed with beta thalassemia, undergone regular transfusion in the outpatient clinic of Pediatric Thalassemia Unit of Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia, and registered as an active student in formal school. Laboratory examinations showed a serum ferritin level of more than 1,000 μg/L and a pretransfusion serum hemoglobin level of less than 7 g/dL for the last 3 months. Patients who had hearing disturbances, history of infectious diseases, chronic health conditions, central nervous system infections, head injuries, intracranial tumors, epilepsy, and other intracranial lesions based on information collected from medical report, parental report, and routine neurological examination were excluded from this study.
All eligible patients and their parents were consecutively approached as they came in for their regular transfusion schedule at the outpatient clinic of the Pediatric Thalassemia Unit during data collection period. Written parental informed consent and the child's assent were obtained prior to participation in the study. At the beginning of the examination and interview, all respondents were informed of the objectives of the study and were assured that all responses would be kept confidential.
2.2. Instrument
We assessed working memory of all eligible patients using the digit span examination. Digit span is a subtest of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Processing Instrument which has been validated and widely used as a single test. Methodologically, span tasks have been proven to be both reliable and valid measures of working memory capacity [29]. Digit span is frequently used in working memory assessment and is designed to be applicable in different countries, cultures, and languages [30]. The reliability scores of digit span forward test and digit span backward test are 0.891 and 0.598, respectively [31].
In this study, digit span was measured for forward and backward (reverse-order) recalls of digit sequences. Forward digit span was used as a measure of the phonological loop of Baddeley's working memory model, whereas backward digit span involved its central executive part. Digit sequences were presented beginning with a length of two digits and two trials were presented at each increasing list length. Each digit was delivered verbally with a clear voice in 1 second interval. Testing ceased when the patient failed to accurately report either trial at one sequence length or when the maximum list length was reached (9 digits forward, 8 backward). The total number of lists reported correctly in forward span and backward span was combined to produce the total correct score.
Academic achievement was assesed using adapted version of the Department of Health and Human Service United Stated Instrument (cronbach alpha, 0.821). This instrument consists of 20 questions for subjective academic behaviours. Answers to the questions were obtained from patients interview and parental or teacher report for information about school marks in five core subjects. Each mark was then converted into a score to obtain academic performance objective data. We also asked parents about school attendance of their children for the last 3 months.
Quality of life assessment was performed using the Indonesian version of Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™) 4.0 Generic Core Scale, which is a child self-report questionnaire for 8-12 years old age range. The questionnaire consists of 23 items: 8 items on physical functioning, 5 items on emotional functioning, 5 items on social functioning, and 5 items on school functioning. PedsQL items ask about how much of a problem a particular thing has been for patients during this past month. Item responses are measured on a five-point rating scale. Each scale has a score ranging from 0-100, in which a higher score indicates a higher QOL. PedsQL has demonstrated good internal consistency and validity in large samples of children with acute and chronic health conditions.
Data analysis was performed using IBM® SPSS® Statistics version 17.0 program. Results were expressed in mean ± standard deviation for quantitative variables and in number and percentage for qualitative ones. The association between working memory score and severity of thalassemia was generated using multiple linear regression analysis.
The interaction between working memory, academic achievement and quality of life variable was identified using path analysis. Path analysis is a variation of multiple-regression analysis and is useful for analyzing a number of issues involved in causal analysis. It holds strength because it allows researchers to study direct and indirect effects simultaneously with multiple independent and dependent variables. Path analysis is the most useful when the researcher has a clear hypothesis to test, or a small number of hypotheses, all of which can be represented within a single path diagram [32].
Fig. (1). Flow diagram of patient inclusion/exclusion.
The first step in our analysis was the initial path model (the hypothesized model), followed by the second step, the final model, which was devised by deleting the insignificant paths from the initial model. The goodness of fit between the data and the models was estimated by P-values for the Chi-squared test, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA), Goodness-of-Fit Index (GFI), Adjusted Goodness-of-Fit Index (AGFI), Normed Fit Index (NFI), and Comparative Fit Index (CFI). The criteria for a good fit were P>0.05, RMSEA<.05, GFI>0.9, AGFI>0.9, NFI>0.9 and CFI>0.9.33.
From 83 beta thalassemia patients underwent transfusion during August to December 2016, 60 completed all assessments and were analysed. Details regarding selection of patients are presented in Fig. (1).
The mean (SD) age of patients was 10.23 (1.15) years old with no significant difference beetwen genders (31 females and 29 males). The mean (SD) pretransfusion hemoglobin level was 6.04 (0.65) g/dL whereas the serum ferritin level and duration of illness were 4,297.90 (2,116.42) and 9.2 (1.46) years, respectively. Almost three-quarter (71.67%) of the patients have a total digit span score below global average score with the mean (SD) score of 7.47 (1.7). The mean (SD) total score of academic achievement was 61.87 (14.97) while the mean (SD) total score of quality of life was 70.05 (14.42). School functioning subscale was the most impaired aspect in the quality of life in this study. Details regarding characteristics of the patients are presented in Table 1.
The state of thalassemia and its association with working memory were assessed by obtaining the regression weights and the p-values for these weights. In Table 2, the results of the regression analysis are displayed, along with the estimated regression weights and p-values for all the predictors. Duration of transfusion was the only significant predictor of working memory in children with thalassemia (β = -0.33, p = 0.01). However, hemoglobin level (β = -0.03, p = 0.81) and ferritin level (β = 0.16, p = 0.24) were not significantly affected working memory score. The variable hemoglobin level and duration of transfusion had a negative relationship with working memory since these variable were negatively affect working memory. The longer the children were diagnosed and treated with thalasemia, the lower the hemoglobin, which was related to lower working memory score. Collectively, all three predictors account for about 12% of the variance in working memory score (R2 = 0.12).
Table 1. Patient characteristics (n=60).
Number (%)
General - -
Age (years old) 10.23 (1.15) -
Gender - -
Male - 29 (48.33)
Female - 31 (51.67)
Clinical - -
Serum hemoglobin level (g/dL) 6.04 (0.65) -
Serum ferritin level (μg/L) 4,297.90 (2,116.42) -
Duration of transfusion (years) 9.20 (1.46) -
Working Memory - -
Digit Span Forward 4.68 (1.05) -
Above average - 31 (51.67)
Below average - 29 (48.33)
Digit Span Backward 2.78 (0.94) -
Total Digit Span 7.47 (1.7) -
Academic Achievement - -
Subjective 47.73 (11.28) -
School marks 14.13 (5.48) -
Total 61.87 (14.97) -
Quality of Life - -
Physical 71.36 (20.40) -
Emotional 82.08 (20.24) -
Social 81.92 (22.11) -
School 44.83 (16.97) -
Table 2. Association between severity and duration of illness on working memory.
Working memory score ← Hemoglobin level -0.03 0.81
Working memory score ← Ferritin level 0.16 0.24
Working memory score ← Duration of transfusion -0.33 0.01
Fig. (2). Path analysis results.
Path analysis was carried out and path coefficients were calculated by a series of multiple regression analyses based on the hypothesized model. The values in the final path were P>0.05, RMSEA<0.05, GFI>0.9, AGFI>0.9, NFI>0.9, and CFI>0.9, which suggest that this path model fits the data quite well. The results of the direct and indirect components of the final path model are presented in Fig. (2). Quality of life in children with beta thalassemia was directly (β=0.32) predicted in a positive direction by working memory and academic achievement. Additionally, working memory also affected quality of life indirectly (β=0.639). The explanatory variables (working memory) accounted for 40.8% of the variance explaining academic achievement. The overall model variables accounted for 25.1% of the variance of quality of life in children with beta thalassemia.
Our study shows that almost three-quarter (71.67%) children with beta thalassemia major suffer from working memory impairment which significantly (p<0.001) influences their academic achievement and quality of life.
Several studies show that cognitive function is significantly lower in patients with beta thalassemia. In most cases, this complication remains subclinical and is only detected during neuropsychological evaluations [6]. Cognitive function impairment was first described by Orsini et al [33-34]. and Raafat et al. in a study on 100 beta thalassemia children and 100 healthy controls using Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–Third Edition (Arabic version). The study showed that the mean Full-Scale IQ and Performance IQ of patients were significantly lower than those of controls [35]. Duman et al in a study on 20 children with beta thalassemia major found that Full-Scale IQ, Verbal IQ, and Performance IQ scores are lower in patients [36]. Monastero et al. assessed cognitive function in 46 beta thalassemia major patients and 46 controls showed a significantly impaired cognitive function based on all neuropsychological batteries [37].
With regards to clinical and laboratory variables, this study fails to find a relationship between working memory and hemoglobin and ferritin levels. On the other hand, the duration of transfusional therapy was found to significantly affect working memory. A study from Monastero [37], Elshafy [38], and Elhabiby [39] also showed similar results. Thus, the chronic state of the disease itself, rather than the severity of anemia, is thought to be more involved in the development of cognitive deficits in thalassemic patients [37]. This notion is supported by a study using MR imaging from Manfre et al. which stated that the frequency of brain damage increases with age in patients with thalassemia [15].
Working memory is the ability to process and remember information. It is linked to a range of cognitive activities from reasoning tasks to verbal comprehension [40]. Alloway et al. in their study suggested that working memory at the start of formal education is a more powerful predictor of subsequent academic success than IQ [11]. Specific assessment of working memory in children with beta thalassemia has never been studied. Earlier study using Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–Third Edition from Zafeiriou et al. reported that 36.36% of beta thalassemia patients had abnormal IQ [41]. The best explanation for the large number of patients suffering from working memory impairment in our study is that we involve relatively severe patients with severe anemia, longer duration of illness, high level of ferritin level requiring chelating agent therapy, and high possibility of thrombotic risk.
Nemtsas mentioned that chronic hypoxia and iron overload contribute to neurological manifestations of beta thalassemia [6]. Children with beta thalassemia live with chronic anemia condition which leads to chronic hypoxic state. A study by Ai et al stated that children with low hemoglobin levels have significantly lower scores in Performance IQ and the group of children with high iron but low hemoglobin levels have the worst score [42]. Sun explained that memory is extremely sensitive to hypoxia-ischemia due to the fragility of hippocampal neurons and network to hypoxia. Hippocampal neurons and network itself play an essential role in memory consolidation [43].
High level of ferritin serum or hemosiderosis leads to iron deposition in body. The evidence of iron brain deposition in beta thalassemia patients has never been studied using either neuroradiological or neuropathological examination. Schipper in his study using magnetic resonance scanning on patients with neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation who also suffered from body iron homeostasis disturbance stated that there are predominantly pathological deposition of metal within the central nervous system. [44] Monastero et al. stated that hemosiderosis plays a potential role in cognitive functioning. It is also strengthened by their observation in the same study which showed that patients with signs of iron overload tend to perform worse on neuropsychological tests [37]. A study by Ma'ani et al. showed that serum ferritin level in children with beta thalassemia is associated with their cognitive functioning when assesed using Mini Mental State Examination tools [23] whereas Retnani stated that high serum ferritin level correlates with low cognitive function in thalassemia major children, specifically in performance IQ [45].
Beta thalassemia patients experience hypercoagulable state which leads to thrombotic risk. A study of the hypercoagulable state in beta thalassemia patients using thromboelastography examination showed that 5% of patients are considered to have hypercoagulable condition [20]. Schatz in a study on children with sickle cell disease which shares similar condition with beta thalassemia stated that majority of sickle cell patients perform poorly on the digit span-backward [46]. Their results are similar to this study. Magnetic resonace study on sickle cell children showed that frontal lobe is the most common location of injury, and that it relates to reduced efficiency in rehearsing verbal information in working memory, difficulties in manipulating verbal information in working memory, and poorer retrieval of verbal information on memory recall trials [47].
Working memory capacity is directly related to mathematical skills, language comprehension, and reading ability. Children with low working memory capacity also show short attention spans, are easily distracted, and tend to forget instructions. [11] Rogers et al. in a study involving adolescents with attentional problems stated that working memory is a risk factor for academic failure [48]. Academic problem in school gives rise to limitations that could lead to low self-esteem and problems with acceptance by peers. Children with poor academic performance are exposed to a number of factors that could impact their quality of life [49]. During childhood, academic achievement is important because academic accomplishment is generally thought to determine an individual's future academic career and job opportunities [50]. A study by Crede et al showed that student's academic achievement positively correlates to life satisfaction and quality of life among adolescence in Germany [51]. A similar result is also showed in a study conducted by Rezende, stating that poor school performance has a negative impact on the quality of life and health perception of children [49].
Quality of life is an important aspect for every individual. Empiric evidence shows that pediatric patients with chronic health conditions and low quality of life scores are at risk for having higher healthcare demands and costs in the future [52]. Multiple factors contribute to the quality of life in children with beta thalassemia. To improve the quality of life in children with beta thalassemia, suitable programs aimed at providing psychosocial support and links between the patient, school officials, family, and physician are important, especially for improving school functioning score [27]. Present studies emphasize the importance of psychosocial factor contribution in quality of life in children with beta thalassemia. Thalassemia is thought to be one of the most challenging hematological disorders with no permanent cure. Although advanced medical management has increased the life expectancy, the quality of life of beta thalassemia patients is still relatively low and the psychosocial factors now take the primary importance [28].
Canatan et al. in a study performed in Antalya showed that 60% children with beta thalassemia have academic problems. Thavorncaroensap mentioned that school functioning subscale score is the lowest score of all health related quality of life aspects in children with beta thalassemia [27]. Those studies show that academic performance is an important aspect in the quality of life of children with beta thalassemia.
Without early intervention, working memory difficulties will not spontaneously be corrected as a child develops [11]. However, there is evidence that working memory functioning can be altered and it has been suggested that there is plasticity in the neural networks involved in working memory [53]. Interventions that address working memory limitations may be both remedial and compensatory with a general goal of improving performance in a deficient area while increasing the efficiency of the individual's normal working memory processes [54]. Specific teaching strategies and teaching materials, as well as individual formulated program such as remedial education sessions should ideally begin early in children with poor working memory [55]. A study by Loosli et al. showed that computerized-adaptive working memory intervention considerably improves children's performance in working memory task.9 In 2015, Smith et al. generated a study involving a large sample using a specific working memory training program which shows that working memory training has a significant benefit in everyday functioning [56].
This study shows that cognitive functioning, specifically working memory, has a significant effect on both academic achievement and quality of life of children with beta thalassemia. The mechanism underlying working memory impairment in beta thalassemia children has never been studied but it is currently thought to be the results of chronic hypoxia [16, 17], iron overload [21-23], and hypercoagulable state [18-20]. Impairment of working memory is an important concern because it comprises the ability of individual to temporarily hold information and work with it. In other words, working memory is a core of cognitive function. It is consistently shown to be important for aspects of everyday functioning including maintaining attention in daily activities and academic achievement, in particular in mathematical and language performance [56]. Pyschosocial factors contribute to both academic achievement and quality of life in children with beta thalassemia. Factors such as socioeconomic status, parent educational level, and poor school attendance due to transfusion are relatively hard to modified. Working memory, on the other hand, can be modified through a series of training and improved working memory will give benefits for all aspects of life functioning [54].
Working memory screening of children with beta thalassemia is feasible and an early adaptive working memory training for children with working memory problem may improve not only their working memory but also their every day functioning and their quality of life.
Academic achievement as well as quality of life of a child are influenced by many factors such as socio-economic, nutritional, and parent's educational level factors. The limitation of this study is that we did not analyse these external factors that may affect both academic achievement and quality of life. Better designed studies with larger sample sizes are required to understand the impact of cognitive function on the quality of life in children with thalassemia.
Working memory influences academic achievement and quality of life in beta thalassemia children. Working memory is a contributing factor that determines the quality of life of children with beta thalassemia, both directly and indirectly, via academic achievement. Early attention and intervention programs are needed to help children with beta thalassemia to achieve a better quality of life.
The protocol of the study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee.
No Animals were used in this research. All human research procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the committee responsible for human experimentation (institutional and national), and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2013.
Written parental informed consent and the child's assent were obtained prior to participation in the study.
The authors declare no conflict of interest, financial or otherwise.
This study is a part of Academic Leadership Grant project funded by Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia and has received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or other not-for-profit sectors.
We would like to extend our gratitude to all the staff and management of Pediatric Thalassemia Unit of Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia for their encouragement and support throughout the study.
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[41] Zafeiriou DI, Economou M, Athanasiou-Metaxa M. Neurological complications in β-thalassemia. Brain Dev 2006; 28(8): 477-81.
[42] Ai Y, Zhao SR, Zhou G, Ma X, Liu J. Hemoglobin status associated with performance IQ but not verbal IQ in Chinese preschool children. Pediatr Int 2012; 54(5): 669-75.
[43] Sun M-K. Hypoxia, ischemic stroke, and memory deficits: Prospects for therapy. IUBMB Life 1999; 48(4): 373-8.
[44] Schipper HM. Neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation - clinical syndromes and neuroimaging. Biochim Biophys Acta 2012; 1822(3): 350-60.
[45] Retnani HI, Ismail D. Korelasi antara kadar feritin serum dan fungsi kognitif pada anak dengan thalassemia mayor Ilmu kedokteran klinik 2013.
[46] Schatz J, Roberts CW. Short-term memory in children with sickle cell disease: Executive versus modality-specific processing deficits. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2005; 20(8): 1073-85.
[47] Brandling-Bennett EM, White DA, Armstrong MM, Christ SE, DeBaun M. Patterns of verbal long-term and working memory performance reveal deficits in strategic processing in children with frontal infarcts related to sickle cell disease. Dev Neuropsychol 2003; 24(1): 423-34.
[48] Rogers M, Hwang H, Toplak M, Weiss M, Tannock R. Inattention, working memory, and academic achievement in adolescents referred for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Child Neuropsychol 2011; 17(5): 444-58.
[49] Rezende BA, Lemos SMA, Medeiros AM. QUALIDADE DE VIDA E AUTOPERCEPÇÃO DE SAÚDE DE CRIANÇAS COM MAU DESEMPENHO ESCOLAR. Rev Paul Pediatr 2017; 35(4): 415-21.
[50] Kadison R, DiGeronimo TF. College of the overwhelmed: The campus mental health crisis and what to do about it 2004.
[51] Crede J, Wirthwein L, McElvany N, Steinmayr R. Adolescents' academic achievement and life satisfaction: the role of parents' education. Front Psychol 2015; 6: 52.
[52] Varni JW, Burwinkle TM, Seid M. The PedsQL as a pediatric patient-reported outcome: Reliability and validity of the PedsQL Measurement Model in 25,000 children. Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res 2005; 5(6): 705-19.
[53] Cockroft K. The role of working memory in childhood education: Five questions and answers. S Afr J Child Educ 2015; 5: 1-18.
[54] Dehn MJ. Working memory and academic learning: Assessment and intervention 2008.
[55] Karande S, Kulkarni M. Poor school performance. Indian J Pediatr 2005; 72(11): 961-7.
[56] Spencer-Smith M, Klingberg T. Benefits of a working memory training program for inattention in daily life: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2015; 10(3): e0119522.
Published Contents
Alexianer St. Joseph-Krankenhaus Berlin-Weißensee
Biography of Thomas Müller
Prof. Thomas Müller is presently a Head of the Department of Neurology Berlin Weißensee, St. Joseph Hospital, Gartenstr and a member of the school for Neurobiology at Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany. His analysis areas embrace Parkinson's sickness, gentle psychological feature Impairment, Dementia, Somatotype Disorders, Pain Syndromes, disseminated multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's sickness, tube dementedness, Ekbom syndrome Syndrome and encephalopathy. Dr. Thomas Müller has contributed his valuable publications in numerous scientific journals and he has additionally peer reviewed 353 papers, fifty one book chapters and twenty two emended Journal Supplements. He is serving as an Associate Editor in Chief of four internationally putative journals and Editorial member of seventeen journals overall.
Department of Neurology, Alexianer St. Joseph-Krankenhaus Berlin-Weißensee, Berlin, Germany
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This page offers a growing list of resources that we have found useful and interesting in our research. We are currently grappling with words like error, glitch, ambiguity, mistake, malfunction, noise, failure, bug….
Come back in a few weeks to see what else we have added, or please email Sita Popat at s.popat@leeds.ac.uk with suggestions to add to the list.
Clearing up Ambiguity (2015) "So what is it about ambiguity that it has to be praised to high heaven by all and sundry?" Tim Parks explores the pros and cons of the "wonderfully ambiguous" in literature.
The Glitch Moment(um) (2012) Rosa Menkman discusses glitch aesthetics and media theory, drawing upon a range of examples including some of her own artworks. The book opens with her Glitch Manifesto. Rosa Menkman's blogspot is also a useful resource.
Jon Satrom is an artist working with glitches, blips, errors, and noise. You can also follow Jon Satrom's Twitter feed.
This glitch video will interest anyone who has played the Portal game. This shows what happens if your avatar is crushed between two portals.
Glitch is now recognised as a Shutterstock photo category. Search using the term 'glitch' to find images.
Gaver, William W., Jacob Beaver & Steve Benford. 2003. "Ambiguity as a Resource for Design". Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems CHI'03 pp.233-240.
Nunes, Mark (ed). 2011. Error: Glitch, Noise, and Jam in New Media Cultures. Bloomsbury: London & New York.
Roberts, John. 2011. The Necessity of Errors. Verso: London & New York.
The introduction and first chapter locate the concept of error in a philosophical lineage that includes Descartes, Foucault, Hegel and Marx. A series of themed chapters follow, exploring the productive roles of error in the sciences, psychoanalysis, history and politics, and the arts.


text:
How real estate is carrying News Corp while Binge fades
Welcome to a midweek edition of Unmade.
The full version is available only to our paying members. Others will hit a paywall further down.
Yesterday marked the unofficial mid-point of global financial reporting season. News Corp, dual-listed on the stock exchanges of New York and Sydney, was among the last of the US-based companies to release its 2022 financial year results, but a couple of weeks ahead of its Australian-listed competitors.
The market understandably liked News Corp's results. The company share price blipped upwards by about 5% yesterday, although it's still down by about 20% for the year to date.
As is always the case, there are number of different ways of looking at Australia's biggest non-platform media player.
First, to the big picture.
If there's a single table that matters most in each of News Corp's quarterly updates, it's the one below.
News Corp revenues and profits | Source: News Corp
This year's results come with a couple of caveats, by the way. First, the company reports in US dollars, so there's always fluctuation there (the Aussie dollar is currently weaker, which makes the company's Australian numbers look a little worse). I'll be referring to USD below, unless I specify otherwise. Second, it was a 14-week fourth quarter and a 53-week financial year, which helps the numbers compared to the 13-week quarter and 52-week financial year of FY21.
The bottom half of that table (EBITDA profits) matters more than the top half which covers overall revenues. Like they say, revenue is vanity, and profit is sanity.
In News Corp's case that matters more than most.
Last year, (as you'll see in the top right corner of the table) revenues for the company's book publishing arm (mainly Harper Collins) rose above $2bn, as did its US-based Dow Jones financial segment which includes the Wall Street Journal. The subscription video segment (Foxtel Group) and the news media segment (the Australian and UK news mastheads) both remained above $2bn in revenue.
Just one segment sits below $2bn in revenue - the company's real estate arm, which includes REA Media in Australia.
And despite that, real estate is also the company's most profitable segment, contributing $574m of the company's annual profits.
Next comes the Dow Jones segment with a $433m contribution. Then Foxtel with profits of $360m (and we'll get into that properly below). Then book publishing with a $306m profit.
And in last place comes the news media segment, delivering a profit of $217m for the year.
Even if you put the news media segment back together with Dow Jones, which is the way News Corp used to report until 2020, real estate is the company's main profit engine.
But let's keep digging.
Incidentally, the jump in profits on the graph above for the video segment from 2019 onwards isn't quite as impressive as it might seem. News Corp only started reporting the full Foxtel results when it moves to majority ownership (with Telstra as the junior partner) in 2018, when Fox Sports was merged into the company.
The profit for that video segment in 2019 was $380m. In the height of Covid (when sports subscribers fell away) is fell to $323m, before recovering a little to $359m in 2021, and then staying pretty much flat this year at $360m.
The video numbers still matter more than most because the question remains of whether the company can get a floatation of Foxtel away when the IPO markets reopen. There may be a narrow window before Foxtel loses its HBO rights when the combined HBO Max and Discovery+ streaming product launches locally in 2024.
The ongoing challenge for Foxtel is bringing on lower value streaming subscribers at a faster rate than it loses its higher value broadcast subscribers.
In the quarter just gone there was a negative milestone. For the first time since its launch, the number of people subscribing to Binge fell. Netflix is not the only streaming brand worrying that it may have peaked.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
stalling (n.)
"action of being evasive," 1927, verbal noun from stall (v.2).
Entries linking to stalling
stall (v.2)
1590s, "distract a victim and thus screen a pickpocket from observation," from stall (n.2) "decoy." Meaning "to prevaricate, be evasive, play for time" is attested from 1903. Related: Stalled; stalling. Compare old slang stalling ken "house for receiving stolen goods" (1560s).
Share stalling
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Etymology of stalling by etymonline
Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of stalling. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/stalling
Harper Douglas, "Etymology of stalling," Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/stalling.
Harper, Douglas. "Etymology of stalling." Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/stalling. Accessed $(datetimeMla).
D. Harper. "Etymology of stalling." Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/stalling (accessed $(datetime)).
Dictionary entries near stalling
stallage
stalwart
stamen


text:
Undefeated MMA Fighter Victoria 'The Prodigy' Lee Dead At 18
According to several confirmed reports, ONE Championship-sponsored fighter Victoria "The Prodigy" Lee has passed away. She was only 18 years old.
Her older sister Angela Lee posted about the fighter's December 26 sudden death. Victoria's cause of death is still unknown.
"She has gone too soon and our family has been completely devastated since then," Angela wrote. "We miss her. More than anything in this world. Our family will never be the same. Life will never be the same…" We love you Victoria. I love you Sprout. Until the end of time."
The CEO of One Championship, Chatri Sityodtong, also talked about the young woman who first made her debut with the promotional company at 16.
"I first met Victoria when she was 11 years old. I watched her blossom over the years as a martial artist and a human being," Sityodtong wrote on Facebook. "I always remember thinking how wise, thoughtful, and selfless she was beyond her years. Of course, she was an extraordinary martial arts prodigy even back then, but I could see that she was so much more than that."
Article written by Sha Be Allah #TheSource
Related Topics:DeadFeaturedFighterLeeMMAProdigyRoomServiceRadioUndefeatedVictoria
Burna Boy and WizKid to Headline Inaugural Afro Nation Miami Festival
Gucci Mane's Wife Responds to Big Scarr's Family Saying He Refused To Pay for Funeral


Will Debra Granik ('Leave No Trace') become only the 6th woman nominated at Oscars for Best Director?
A high-class call girl accused of murder fights for the right to stand trial rather than be declared mentally incompetent.
A shy, middle-aged professor enters into a romantic but non-physical relationship with an unlucky-in-love colleague.
A bankrupt entrepreneur attempts to recoup some of her losses by getting a washed-out boxer she picked up as a tax loss back into the ring - an idea her protégé isn't fond of.
A troubled young woman who visits a psychotherapist to help her quit smoking undergoes hypnosis and finds herself reliving a tragic Victorian romance from a past life.
Tom Wingo: [narrating] I don't know when my parents began their war against each other - but I do know the only prisoners they took were their children.
and a love affair montage.
Q: What is "The Prince of Tides" about?
I avoided this movie because I did not care to see a romance involving Barbra Streisand and Nick Nolte. When we finally rented the movie, it turned out to be so, so much more. An incredibly intense film. I was never of fan of Nolte, but what a tremendous performance! It moves me to tears every time I watch this film. I am amazed the IMD reviewers give it such a low rating.
33 of 43 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?


text:
New to Las Cruces schools: Outdoor learning areas to be established at all schools by fall 2022
Miranda Cyr
Las Cruces Sun-News
LAS CRUCES - Students at Monte Vista Elementary School and eventually all 39 schools in the Las Cruces Public Schools district will have access to an outdoor learning area by fall of 2022.
The idea first began with Robbi Berry's fifth-grade class' involvement with Wild Friends.
During the 2020-21 school year, Berry's class testified to the state senate in support of outdoor classrooms. The memorial drafted by the students asked for a task force dedicated to looking into options for learning spaces in mainly pre-established outdoor areas. Legislators passed the memorial on Feb. 24, 2021.
Education:A teacher's journey from being a teen parent to supporting teen parents: 2022 New Mexico Teacher of the Year
Wild Friends Program, a civics education program at the University of New Mexico School of Law that has been giving young students a chance to try their hand in drafting legislative documents on wildlife-based issues for the past 30 years.
This is Berry's third year being involved with Wild Friends.
Students in Berry's class made a request for an outdoor classroom to the district in September, and LCPS Superintendent Ralph Ramos decided to allocate $10,000 to the project.
Oct. 20, Berry's students presented their creative ideas for outdoor learning centers to Ramos, New Mexico Public Education Department Deputy Secretary Gwen Perea Warniment and other LCPS administrators.
Funding an outdoor classroom
Berry said she was initially surprised at how easily funding was approved for the project.
Students suggested different price ranges, from $1,000 to $8,000, not aware that Ramos had already approved $10,000 for the project. The fifth-graders thought of planting trees, making a community garden, installing an outdoor whiteboard and even suggested chairs that look like rocks for students to sit on and a tree stump for their teacher.
More:Las Cruces students in Wild Friends class testify before state Legislature
After each student enthusiastically presented, Ramos announced that not only would Monte Vista receive $10,000, but that he has set aside $500,000 for outdoor classroom construction districtwide.
"It was because of you, that brought the idea to me that I said, 'I gotta do my job, I gotta find some dollars for these projects,'" Ramos said to the students on Wednesday, Oct. 20. "We're gonna try to use these ideas that you shared with me today and make it happen. I want to thank you for all your hard work."
There are about 11 other fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth-grade classes statewide working on similar outdoor classroom projects with the Wild Friends Program, but Monte Vista and LCPS are the first to get funding approved.
Although the students each prepared different projects, Monte Vista will likely combine ideas from many students to incorporate into the outdoor learning area.
Ramos said that LCPS has already made a substantial order to purchase furniture for outdoor learning last week, which is expected to arrive in three to six months. The furniture ordered is enough to establish outdoor learning areas in 15 to 20 schools, according to Ramos.
Monte Vista will be the first school to be set up for outdoor learning when furniture is set to start arriving in January.
"Some of (the furniture) actually kind of look like rocks as well, kind of like what the kids were talking about," Ramos said.
The next step after furniture will be working with individual schools on where to create an outdoor learning space. At Monte Vista, there is already a shade structure that could be the final placement.
Ramos said that the district is working with school safety teams to determine the best spots.
The students were excited to be able to see and use the outdoor classrooms themselves, but they also talked about the legacy they want to leave behind to other students.
Several of the students raised their hands to indicate they have younger siblings.
"Even though you may get to use this outdoor classroom for a short time, it's going to be something that other boys and girls get to use for a long time, and that's really cool," Deputy Superintendent for Teaching, Learning and Research Wendi Miller-Tomlinson said.
The students are excited to begin, they talked about the benefits of outdoor learning such as increased focus and opportunities to learn from their surrounding environment.
Miranda Cyr, a Report for America corps member, can be reached at mcyr@lcsun-news.com or @mirandabcyr on Twitter. Show your support for the Report for America program at https://bit.ly/LCSNRFA.
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text:
Return to Play: An Overview of the Proposed 24-Team NHL Playoff
May 25, 2020 by Todd Cordell
The NHL seems near a return (July?), and Todd Cordell goes over the proposed format to crown a Stanley Cup Champion in 2020.
The NHL and NHLPA recently agreed on a return-to-play plan that would dive straight into a 24-team playoff when hockey resumes in July (COVID permitting).
The top four seeds in each conference would get a bye – which will likely result in playing a few games against one another to a) kick off the rust and; b) open the door to move up a seed or two – while the rest would square off in best-of-five series to earn a spot in the final 16.
Matchups would be as follows:
Pittsburgh (5) vs Montreal (12) – winner gets Philadelphia (4)
Carolina (6) vs New York Rangers (11) – winner gets Washington (3)
New York Islanders (7) vs Florida (10) – winner gets Tampa Bay (2)
Toronto (8) vs Columbus (9) – winner gets Boston (1)
Edmonton (5) vs Chicago (12) – winner gets Dallas (4)
Nashville (6) vs Arizona (11) – winner gets Vegas (3)
Vancouver (7) vs Minnesota (10) – winner gets Colorado (2)
Calgary (8) vs Winnipeg (9) – winner gets St. Louis (1)
I will go more in-depth on potential mismatches, picks, etc. when everything becomes official and we're closer to puck drop. For now, though, I'll share some thoughts and potential strategies we can use when hockey returns.
Be wary of teams on bye. That's not to say that you should blindly be picking against them; they're getting a free pass for a reason. I'm just saying a potential round robin scenario where they only play three games puts them at a disadvantage when considering most other teams will be locked into series that go four or five. Those games will also be more intense – there is a lot more on the line – so they'll have had more time to shake off the rust in real situations. After such a long period off, a couple extra games could really make a difference.
Be more bold with upset picks. Obviously you don't want to pick Team X over Team Y as a value just because they're the lower seed. But if you believe a team has a better chance than the markets (or friends you do pools/make bets with), don't be afraid to take a stand. Hockey has a lot more variance than a sport like basketball to begin with. That's why the higher seed – particularly when there is a large gap – almost *always* wins in the NBA. That's not the case in hockey, and the shortened series will only add fuel to the fire that is variance.
Take the Nashville vs Arizona series, for example. Nashville has a more talented roster with name brand stars (Roman Josi, Filip Forsberg, Matt Duchene, etc.). Arizona appears to have a *big* goaltending advantage, though. If Darcy Kuemper (.928 SV%) – who likely would have been a Vezina candidate if not for injury – can clearly outplay Pekka Rinne (.895 SV%) in, say, two games, then all the Coyotes need to do is take care of business in one of the other three games. They don't even have to be the better team to do that; an extra bounce or two going their way in one game gives them the series.
If you see some outrageous series prices, be even more aggressive with them than you would be under normal circumstances. Fewer games = more variance, which makes higher seeds (and 'better teams') more susceptible to being beaten.
Don't forget about injuries. It really is imperative that you factor them into your outlook when evaluating a team or series. The Pittsburgh Penguins will likely be sizable favorites and there still may end up being value on them. Why? They're a 5 seed. 5 seeds are beatable, right? Sure; especially in a shorter series. But make sure you keep in mind they're a 5 seed despite Evgeni Malkin missing 14 games, Patric Hornqvist missing 17, Sidney Crosby missing 28, Jake Guentzel missing 30, Brian Dumoulin missing 41, etc, etc. They surely could have picked up a few more points over 69 games and gotten a bye with better health.
Injuries may play even more of a role when looking at a closer series like Toronto and Columbus. I think the Maple Leafs have a higher ceiling as a team, and should be favored, but the Blue Jackets matched them in points despite a Pittsburgh-like stream of injuries. Cam Atkinson, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Josh Anderson and Seth Jones, among others, all missed significant periods of time with injuries. And it's very possible all will be playing come July.
As much as I like the Leafs, if they open as big favorites I'd be very tempted to pull the trigger on an underrated Blue Jackets team returning to full health; particularly in a shorter series where there is no home-ice advantage for higher seeds.
Follow me on Twitter @ToddCordell
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Todd Cordell
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If you're taking the special lady in your life to dinner or being treated to a lovely meal, then Petersham Nurseries is the perfect place. Decorated with beautiful fresh flowers, this restaurant also incorporates them into dishes. You'll not only have the décor to tantalise the senses but also the food. Make the day extra special by gifting or wearing a staple accessory to fit the venue such as the Bethnal in Cream Croc.
Tip: Head to the Richmond branch if the weather is set to be sunny, as they have an open-air seating area. Covent Garden may be better if it's looking a little unpredictable - there is also a beautiful florist shop close by to browse different buds and buy mum a bespoke bouquet.
Make this Mother's Day the best one yet by letting mum have the ultimate pamper session. The House of Elemis in Mayfair is central and the perfect wind-down after a stroll down Oxford Street beforehand. The Harriet is ideal to fit all of her essentials for either a 30-minute mani (£36) or a 60-minute deep tissue massage (£95). There's also time to browse and get first-hand access to their products and tips on how to use them.
If your mother is a lover of flowers and beautiful scenery, then the Orchids Festival at Kew is the perfect exhibition to take her to. The stunning array of colourful buds in the botanical garden's greenhouse is in celebration of twenty-four years of Columbian plant life. Gift her with the Anouk in Linear Leaf to wear to the event in support of her love of florals.
If you and mum fancy chemical gas with your tea and Jupiter scones then book afternoon tea at Ampersand hotel. For foodies who like to have fun, you can enjoy planet mousse, dinosaur biscuits and chocolate spacemen for (£39.50pp) or (£49.50pp) with a glass of champagne. The Mia crossbody in Weave Mix is just as striking as the food and acts as the ideal everyday gift for mum.


This is a story about having the relevant information to make the right decision.
June 2015 was thought to be the typical end-of-spring in Sweden, a bit rainy and with a fair amount of snow to melt in the mountains. Built in the upper part of Umeälven river and run by Vattenfall, the Stornorrfors hydropower plant was releasing water from the reservoir for power production, as usual. The release rate was enough to accommodate extra water expected from snowmelt and occasional precipitation, in a delicate balance until the end of summer. Every drop down the pipe meant money for the company.
However, June 2015 was not the typical end-of-spring in Sweden after all. The amount of snow had been vastly underestimated, and early July turned out to be rainier than average. Surprised by the unexpected combination of intensive snowmelt and increased precipitation, the operators of the reservoir saw it filling up too early. With water still coming down the hills, they had to release an extra amount to prevent the dam from spilling over. The consequence: cubic meters of profits being lost downstream.
Why did Vattenfall operators not foresee what was coming?
Their decision-making at that time relied on the analysis of past climatology, that is, the historical average climate patterns for as many as possible ends of spring. But we know averages have a hard time predicting anomalies like that of June 2015. Had they had access to a trustworthy seasonal forecast, adapted to their needs, things would have been a lot different.
S2S4E, our simulation-based project on sub-seasonal to seasonal forecasts for energy, aims at making the difference. Not just for its state-of-the-art forecasting technology, but for its latest development: the Decision Support Tool (DST). Once fully functional, the DST will provide weekly to monthly forecasts on temperature, wind speed and precipitation at a global scale. This service, co-created with leading energy companies in Europe, is being tailored to the needs of the sector and will play a strategic role in mainstreaming climate predictions. Fighting the structural risks of renewable energy sources, like supply and demand imbalance or climate anomalies, would bring a better decision-making horizon while pushing the limits for the adoption of these technologies in the energy supply mix.
"It will be a useful tool, especially for advanced users," said Laurent Dubus, researcher at the R&D section of Électricité de France (EDF) and one of the S2S4E partners. "In the past, you just had a 3-month average for seasonal forecasts. With this tool, you will have monthly resolution and even weekly for the first month ahead, which is something good, as long as users are aware of the limitations and well informed about what they can or cannot expect from the predictions (which, by the way, is also displayed by the DST)". In his opinion, one of the best things about the new DST is that "it provides information for all grid points. This has not been seen anywhere else so far, and it is the main difference with other DSTs that I know".
Not directly involved in the project, the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is one of the reference institutions in the field of seasonal forecasts. Carlo Buontempo, Sectoral Information System Manager at the Copernicus Climate Services section, is very positive on this new development: "I like the design of the S2S4E DST. It looks very professional". Buontempo considers the tool flexible enough to be suitable for those users who are not too familiar with S2S data as well: "CEOs and policy-makers prefer a clear visualisation rather than plain data. For them, DSTs can be really useful tools".
Innovations take time to gather momentum and become a reference and, as Buontempo points out, DSTs are new technologies: "we have to let the users experiment with them. Success will be measured in terms of the interest raised among the community and on the benefits they can have by integrating the DSTs into their own decision-making systems". He also highlighted that this statement is especially true for small to medium companies who "can't invest resources in a full in-house data analysis department. They could take advantage of a DST like the one being developed". In the growing sector of renewable energies, opportunities offered by the exploitation of a tool like the DST are plenty.
Despite being young, the history of DSTs allows for a list of quite successful prototypes. Isadora Jiménez, science communication specialist at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), remembered the past approaches that gave birth to S2S4E: "The DST is not a new idea. It comes from previous initiatives such as Project Ukko, from the EUPORIAS project and the Resilience prototype".
Her experience in Ukko and Resilience is a very valuable asset for the project at hands and Jiménez have the perfect recipe, "If you want to develop a really useful product, you need to engage with a lot of people: scientists, communication experts, designers… and be very open-minded".
The initial tests of the interface design are promising, and testers are all excited about the next operational version of the S2S4E DST, before its official launch scheduled for spring 2019. Providing the best information in the most suitable format remains the main objective to keep in mind for the near future. It will largely contribute in helping managers of renewable power plants, energy traders and grid operators making the right decisions at the right time, so that no profits will ever spill over a dam anymore.


Here are a few pointers to help you be a good Project Manager.
1) Remember your manners, as well as your place.
You are not the translator's boss. You are his or her "manager", and only temporarily at that. Don't talk down to the translator, or order them around as if you own them. Remember: whereas an employee of a company usually has no recourse but to quit their job if they don't like dealing with a particular manager for being bossy and rude, a freelance translator has the choice to never work with you again. Also, PM or not, do you really need someone to remind you not to be a jerk...?
2) Reply to inquiries and requests ASAP.
Many project managers - after contracting a translator for a particular job – basically just give up on communicating with the translator until the project deadline, ignoring questions and confirmation mails/phone calls. Not only is this just plain rude, but it can also cause a translator to feel uneasy and suspicious. When I was working as a freelance translator, I would often receive a job from a PM and then receive no word from them whatsoever after sending my confirmation mail. This would make me wonder... Am I really going to get paid? Is this even a real company? Or is it just some guy looking for someone to do his homework for him? It is especially important to answer any questions relating to the project that the translator may have to the best of your ability. Don't forget that - as a PM – if you turn in a translation of poor quality, then that poor quality will reflect on you and your company in the eyes of the client.
3) Keep open lines of communication with not only the translator, but the client as well.
If a translator has a question regarding his or her assigned project, it is important that you be able to relay that question to the client, as it may affect the entire outcome of the project. This means that you need to try to the best of your ability (depending on the client and the project, this is not always possible) to keep open lines of communication with clients. This is not only for the sake of the translator and the translation itself, but for your company and your company's profits. Think about it from the translator's point of view discussed above: if you receive a job from a client and can't seem to get ahold of them after accepting the job, how sure can you be that they're actually going to pay you on time? Or at all? Whenever possible, try to get not only an email address but also a physical postal address and a telephone number for any clients you work with, and be sure to extend them the same courtesy and respect that you would expect from a translator. This will not only help to let you feel more at ease, but also to build a stronger, more trusting relationship with important clients.
4) Be sure to keep track of all aspects of your projects thoroughly.
Who translated this project? When is it due? Was it turned in on time? Who was the client? How much are you receiving? How much are you paying the translator? When will the payment come in? When are you scheduled to pay the translator? How was the quality of the translation? Were there any additions or changes? What was the format? What were the source and target languages? What was the name of the source file? Was it proofread? Who proofread it? How much are you paying them? These are all important aspects of any job, and should be managed and recorded thoroughly. Failing to handle this part of the job could cost you translators, clients, and most importantly: money.
Of course, there are many more aspects of the PM job that deserve attention and care, but these are some of the most important.


The Tonawanda Reservation is located in Genesee County in Western New York and not far from the towns of Batavia, Elba, Oakfield, and Alabama. When I was younger, my father would sometimes take us on Sunday drives through the area and stop off at The Rez to fill up the gas tank and buy stuff from the store. It's been a long time since I'd been there and their gas station has definitely been upgraded since then. If I remember correctly, they weren't a self-serve the last time we were through there, around 1998. It's strange, thinking back, how even these little experiences have formed who I am.
Anyways, back on subject, the Tonawanda Reservation is settled by the Tonawanda Band of Seneca. Being federally recognized, they live by their traditional ways of governing. The treaty, which made them federally recognized, was the "Treaty with the Tonawanda Senecas." It was signed on November 5th, 1857, Ratified on June 4th, 1858, and Proclaimed on March 31st, 1859.
Charles Eli Mix, Commissioner of the Bureau of Indian Affairs at the time, represented the U.S. government and representing on behalf the Tonawanda Band were Seneca attorney and diplomat Ely Samuel Parker (Ha-sa-no-an-da), George Sky, Jabez Ground, Isaac Shanks, and Jesse Spring. Along with the treaty and being federally recognized, the land sales of the Treaties of Buffalo Creek were effectively reversed for the tribe and they were able to buy back the lands taken and sold by the Phelps and Gorham purchase.
The Tonawanda Reservation is along the region where the border of the neutrals lived back before they were wiped out during the Beaver Wars. The first tribe to take a hit from the Iroquois (specifically, the Seneca) were the Wenrohronon. They suffered mass casualties in the attack, had their land taken and were forced to flee to Huron lands. It's hard to find any information about the Wenrohronon, as their tribe was absorbed and lost to time. These attacks by the Iroquois were carried out due to the influence of the Dutch in trying to disrupt French trading.
Little by little, the lands of the Tonawanda Reservation are being sold to surrounding interests. Though, it's said the Tonawanda Seneca are more lenient in allowing land to be sold to non-natives, in comparison to other bands of Seneca in the region. In 2015, the population was 458 but that number may not be accurate. In 2010, according to the Census, there were 693 residents.


text:
title: Sketch
---
## Sketch

Sketch is a professional design application for the Mac that utilizes a vector-based workflow. The interface is clean and inviting for new users as well as being a familiar tool for users of Adobe Fireworks. Sketch has become a popular alternative tool to Photoshop for users who do not need an over abundance of options for interface designs.

### Why Sketch?

* Easily reuse elements
* Prototyping
* Collaborate with others
* Lots of plugins
* Export files in multiple formats such as png, svg etc. Even 2x versions retina displays with ease
* Vast community
* Easily copy CSS attributes from design elements
* Exports style guide in easy to read HTML/CSS

### Why Should I Switch To Sketch?

Sketch is designed to build digital products rather than editing photos and print graphics. Sketch's clean interface helps keep you organized when mocking up or building out your UI/UX designs. The art boards that Sketch uses enforces a pixel grid for precise designs. Exporting designs is simple and supports different device resolutions.

### Useful Plugins for Sketch

- [Zeplin - Generates and exports design assets and style guides](https://zeplin.io/)
- [Sketch IconFont - Helps you easily insert and manage icons from icon fonts](https://github.com/keremciu/sketch-iconfont)
- [Mirr.io - Preview prototypes in any browser in any device from Sketch](https://mirr.io/)

#### More Information:

- [Sketch](https://www.sketchapp.com)
- [Sketch Documentation](https://www.sketchapp.com/docs/)
- [Learn Sketch](http://learnsketch.com/tutorials)
- [Sketch App Sources](https://www.sketchappsources.com/)
- [YouTube - Sketch crash course](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWlUJU11tp4fEXI8deWhBQAHDv9R23WHB)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
US condemns planned construction in East Jerusalem
Following announcement to build 558 units, State Dept. warns against unilateral acts that seek to 'prejudge final status issues'
By TOI staff	6 February 2014, 6:51 am 15 Edit
The security barrier that separates East Jerusalem's Shuafat refugee camp, on the right, from the Jewish neighborhood of Pisgat Ze'ev. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)
The US State Department criticized on Wednesday the announcement that municipal planners had approved the construction of 558 new apartments in Jewish neighborhoods in east Jerusalem.
"Our position on Jerusalem is clear," said State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters at a daily briefing. "We oppose any unilateral actions by either party that attempt to prejudge final status issues, including the status of Jerusalem."
"We've called on both sides to take steps to create a positive atmosphere for the negotiations."
Speaking with respect to recent right-wing Israeli criticism of US Secretary of State John Kerry and his peace efforts, Psaki said, "Any rhetoric that is inaccurate and critical as this is is unhelpful." She added, "These kind of attacks are unacceptable. They not only distort his record but they distract from the key issues at hand."
Kerry has been trying to get Israelis and Palestinians to agree on a nonbinding framework agreement before the current nine-month time frame for talks runs out. Palestinian officials said earlier Wednesday that the decision to build in east Jerusalem undermined the fragile US-brokered negotiations.
The Jerusalem municipality said its planning committee approved building permits in the neighborhoods of Har Homa, Neve Yaakov and Pisgat Zeev, built on land Israel captured in the 1967 war and later annexed. Most of the international community considers them illegal settlements.
Brachie Sprung, a municipality spokeswoman, said the building projects received initial approval a few years ago, and that new building in Arab areas of Jerusalem was also approved Wednesday. The city said that "tens of thousands" of apartments are planned for all communities in Jerusalem, according to Israel Radio.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Israel was undermining Kerry's peace efforts with the move. "The international community must hold Israel accountable for this policy," he said.
The announcement of new construction was blasted by veteran PLO politician Hanan Ashrawi, who said "Israel is engaging in the deliberate provocation of the Palestinians to drive them to leave the negotiations in protest of Israeli violations."
Israel is attempting to "ensure the failure of negotiations and the destruction of the two-state solution" with its "violations of international and humanitarian law," she added.
Lior Amihai of the Israeli settlement watchdog group Peace Now said the new approvals were "shameful" at a time when negotiations are in a sensitive stage.
Government spokesman Mark Regev had no immediate comment.
More than 550,000 Israelis live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Palestinians want to establish a state in those territories as well as the Gaza Strip, all captured by Israel in 1967. Israeli building beyond the Green Line is a deeply sensitive issue to the Palestinians, who demand that Israel cease developing those areas, and to Israel's nationalist right-wing parties, who see continued Jewish settlement in east Jerusalem and the West Bank as a priority. Some parts of Jerusalem over the Green Line, such as the Old City and its Temple Mount, are seen by most Israelis as integral parts of Israel, and by Palestinians as critical to their future state.
AP contributed to this report.
Israeli-Palestinian peace talks
Saeb Erekat
Hanan Ashrawi
Jerusalem municipality
Har Homa
Pisgat Zeev
Israel-US relations
Jen Psaki
West Bank settlements


The Adler Prize for Women Writers (USA/CAN: Student) is for personal essays of up to 500 words by female authors pursuing an advanced degree in journalism, literature, or creative writing in the USA/Canada. Prize is $1000 scholarship.
More info here. Sponsored/Hosted by Lucas Akyroyd.